Box Score MASON, Ohio - The Trevecca Nazarene University baseball team (43-14) completed one of the best seasons in program history with a 4-1 loss to Lee University (35-18) on Friday. The Trojans, unfortunately, finished 2-2 in Pool B play at the 2014 NCCAA World Series and will not advance to the 2014 Championship Round on Saturday.
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The loss comes in spite of a great performance by Trevecca starter Michael Purcell (JR/New Johnsonville, Tenn.). Purcell (10-2) pitched 8.2 innings and allowed just four runs - one was earned. Purcell gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out five. Jeremy Stawychny (8-4) got the win for Lee. The All-American allowed just five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three Trojan batters. ÂÂ
The key moment came in the Lee half of the second inning. The Flames, former conference foes of Trevecca, plated all four of their runs with an assist from two Trevecca miscues and another mental error in the inning.
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Blake Ray doubled to lead off the inning and a muffed throw allowed Andres Nelo to reach on what was supposed to be sac bunt. Nathan Wierzgac was next and reached on a bunt single to load the bases with no one out. Another error on a Cameron Brewster batted ball, on what might have been a double play ball, scored two runs. An out later Siosi Poti grounded out on a sac bunt, but scored another run. Derrick Pitts followed with a single up the middle scoring Brewster for the final run of the inning. ÂÂ
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Trevecca missed a few opportunities to score during the game, but the biggest might have been a rally in the eighth that eventually netted only a single run. Ryan Arington (FR/Cincinnati, Ohio) led off the inning with his seventh double of the year. The next two batters failed to reach, but did move Arington to third. Tyler Tichenor (SO/Centertown, Ky) delivered what turned out to be a record (see below) setting single that also scored Arington for the Trojans only run. Hunter Newman (SO/Chapmansboro, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch in the next at bat, but the Trojans couldn't capitalize any further. ÂÂ
There were a number of records or near records this season. Here are a few notable accomplishments by the 2014 Trevecca baseball team.
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Tyler Tichenor tied the Trevecca season record for hits yesterday and broke the record today. Tichenor finished the season with a .429 batting average and 101 hits. He passed All-American Maurice Cole who had 100 hits in 2007. ÂÂ
Nick Howell (SR/Hendersonville, Tenn.) ended the season with 74 runs scored and is tied with Jeremy Todd for the most runs scored in a season. Todd scored 74 runs in 2000. Howell ended the year with a school-record 14 triples. A number that breaks the record of 10 set by Maurice Cole in 2007. ÂÂ
Luke Fennell (SR/Franklin, Tenn.), whose season ended with a leg injury in Trevecca's first game on Thursday, finished his season with 64 RBI. That places his second all-time to Richard Perez who had a record 65 RBI in 1988. ÂÂ
Michael Purcell, who had five strikeouts today, finishes the season with 102 strikeouts and is eighth on the Trevecca list for strikeouts in a season.  ÂÂ
Nick Howell also set the career record for triples with 20. ÂÂ
Coach Ryan Schmalz now has a 77-36 overall in his two seasons at the helm of the Trojan program and is 29-9 in conference play. His first two teams have also claimed the first two G-MAC Baseball regular season and tournament championships.
